„When I took my first photos in Budapest, ’Buffet à Glace’ (Jégbüfé) got my attention. I did not know why. Later I understood this is a strategic spot: exit of Pest to Buda or reception of Pest from Buda side. It is beginning and end of shopping streets, close to universities, having bus stops where thousands of people meet. I understood what is fascinating me: the counter of Jégbüfé is like a theater where every emotion appeears: joy, sorrow, melancholy, love, meditation…Kids, adults, young, old, rich and poor people, the whole society visits Jégbüfé, everybody in Budapest has memories, stories connected to the place. The translation of Jégbüfé in French plays on words as glace means mirror and ice-cream at the same time. ’Buffet à Glace’ is a mirror buffet, exhibiting photos taken through glass.”

Bruno Bourel is a French photographer born in 1957. After studying music and film making, he started photography with Polaroid SX 70 in the late seventies. He lives and work in Budapest since 1993. He is famous for his black-and-white photo-postcards taken in Budapest. Academic year 2013/2014, Center for Arts and Culture aims to present foreign artists who live in Budapest at CEU. We have organized concerts of Antonia Vai, Elsa Valle and Laura Lackey’s Rhythm Revue. Bruno Bourel’s exhibition is a part of this project.

Opening remarks by Judit Bodnár (Head of Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology, CEU)